MORE MOVIES
FREE FIRE (2017) D- Ben Wheatley.
In what appears to be early 70s LA, a group of felons go to a warehouse to buy an arsenal of weapons big enough to start a small revolution. The guns are there, they've got their briefcases stuffed with cash, but somewhere along the line it all goes wrong and everyone starts shooting at everyone else. One by one the protagonists take hits and fall to the ground, but they aren't killed. They start crawling about, bleeding but still highly dangerous to anyone dumb enough to show themselves. Bang bang. You're dead. Nearly.
Ben Wheatley has established himself, with films like A field in England and Sightseers, as one of the most talented young directors in Britain. Here he's taken the Hollywood dollar and made a very stylish, extremely violent (nothing new there then) movie which looks terrific but which lacks a certain something. Plot perhaps. What I have described above is indeed the whole movie; there's little opportunity for character development, and there's no real context we can place ourselves in. An interesting exercise certainly, but Ben needs a better script next time..
THE AMERICAN FRIEND (1977) D- Wim Wenders.
Tom Ripley has a friend who does excellent fakes of works of art, but someone who knows his stuff notices a problem with one of them. Psychopath that he is, Ripley decides to fuck with this guy's mind, just for fun, by exploiting his terminal illness by offering him a sack of money to murder one of his enemies.
Based on Patricia Highsmith's novel Ripley's Game, Wim Wenders produced one of the finest adaptations of Highsmith's work long before a later generation of film makers took their turn. Shot in a strange, surreal colour, with brilliant performances by Dennis Hopper as Ripley and Bruno Ganz as his puppet, this is a strange, beautiful and dark movie. Very strong.
EDVARD MUNCH (1974) D- Peter Watkins
The tortured life and turbulent times of Scandinavia's greatest artist. Growing up in a devout Christian family where one family member after another succumbed to consumption, poor Edvard grew to adopt an analysis of life characterised by pain, frustration and rejection. And his desperate attempts to understand himself and a world that could bring about such suffering came out on the canvas. Misunderstood by a public not ready for his revolutionary approach, he pressed on regardless of their contempt, and went on to become one of the most renowned artists of the past 300 years.
Peter Watkins made his name making "mocumantaries" for television, notably Culloden and The War Game. And he stayed with this "factional" style in making this, his greatest artistic creation. Neglected today, this film is extraordinary. Dwelling on the pain of Munch's existence in almost unendurable detail, we see how this pain is transformed through paint, woodcut and engravure into works of transcendent beauty and power. It is not an easy film (it's not far short of 4 hours long) but like many "difficult" films or books, the effort expended is richly rewarded. Unforgettable.
Saturday, 29 July 2017
July 2017 movie review Part 1
FILMS
LIFE ON THE LINE (2015) D- David Hackl.
John Travolta plays a lineman (maintaining the power cables) somewhere in Texas who with his team has to keep the power flowing despite storms and internal wrangling within his workforce. In particular he objects to one of his men dating his gorgeous adopted daughter (Kate Bosworth). Yawn.
This review tries to be fair, and because I select the films I watch with considerable care, I find myself more often or not recommending them. Not this time. This movie sucks. Not for its production values which are excellent; there's plenty of money up on the screen for sure. But the acting is self conscious and the plot and script are execrable. Don't bother, people...
POP STAR: DON'T STOP NEVER STOPPING (2016) D- Akiva Schaffer.
Conner Friel (Andy Samberg, who also co-scripted) is one of those manufactured, talentless pop stars based on any number of real people currently clipping millions from a public who are told by people like Simon Cowell what to like and do so with astonishing obedience. But slowly, our man suffers an "Emperor's New Clothes" phenomenon and it all falls apart spectacularly.
Peppered with megastar cameos like a pizza with too many toppings, this film does have a certain charm. It laughs at itself in the way parodies are supposed to, but you find yourself reflecting that there is really only one "rockstar mocumantary" by which all others should be judged: This is Spinal Tap. And I'm afraid in this regard this movie comes up wanting.
Not bad if you have a couple of spare hours to hand...
THE BEGUILED (2017) D- Sofia Coppola.
In the dying days of the American Civil War, an injured confederate soldier stumbles into a girls' school and is protected by the teachers and pupils, who, as the title suggests, start to become somewhat beguiled by their unexpected guest. They are frightened, repelled, and attracted by him, almost simulataneously. But when his wounds begin to heal, he becomes less docile and more assertive. Temptation surrounds him on all sides, luscious, barely legal girls, sultry teachers (Kirsten Dunst) and gorgeous but surely unobtainable headmistress Nicole Kidman. One man, all that oestrogen, something's gotta give...
Here, Sofia Coppola, one of the most talented directors in Hollywood (The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation) has taken the risky move of doing a remake of a perfectly serviceable, if flawed, original. Don Siegel put his favourite actor Clint Eastwood into his 1971 movie, a film which has since achieved cult status. But despite the risks implicit in remaking famous movies, Coppola has made a fine update. The acting and directing is excellent, and the film has its own curious, dreamy atmosphere which is very powerful. Give it a go.
Please see next blog for more movies...
LIFE ON THE LINE (2015) D- David Hackl.
John Travolta plays a lineman (maintaining the power cables) somewhere in Texas who with his team has to keep the power flowing despite storms and internal wrangling within his workforce. In particular he objects to one of his men dating his gorgeous adopted daughter (Kate Bosworth). Yawn.
This review tries to be fair, and because I select the films I watch with considerable care, I find myself more often or not recommending them. Not this time. This movie sucks. Not for its production values which are excellent; there's plenty of money up on the screen for sure. But the acting is self conscious and the plot and script are execrable. Don't bother, people...
POP STAR: DON'T STOP NEVER STOPPING (2016) D- Akiva Schaffer.
Conner Friel (Andy Samberg, who also co-scripted) is one of those manufactured, talentless pop stars based on any number of real people currently clipping millions from a public who are told by people like Simon Cowell what to like and do so with astonishing obedience. But slowly, our man suffers an "Emperor's New Clothes" phenomenon and it all falls apart spectacularly.
Peppered with megastar cameos like a pizza with too many toppings, this film does have a certain charm. It laughs at itself in the way parodies are supposed to, but you find yourself reflecting that there is really only one "rockstar mocumantary" by which all others should be judged: This is Spinal Tap. And I'm afraid in this regard this movie comes up wanting.
Not bad if you have a couple of spare hours to hand...
THE BEGUILED (2017) D- Sofia Coppola.
In the dying days of the American Civil War, an injured confederate soldier stumbles into a girls' school and is protected by the teachers and pupils, who, as the title suggests, start to become somewhat beguiled by their unexpected guest. They are frightened, repelled, and attracted by him, almost simulataneously. But when his wounds begin to heal, he becomes less docile and more assertive. Temptation surrounds him on all sides, luscious, barely legal girls, sultry teachers (Kirsten Dunst) and gorgeous but surely unobtainable headmistress Nicole Kidman. One man, all that oestrogen, something's gotta give...
Here, Sofia Coppola, one of the most talented directors in Hollywood (The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation) has taken the risky move of doing a remake of a perfectly serviceable, if flawed, original. Don Siegel put his favourite actor Clint Eastwood into his 1971 movie, a film which has since achieved cult status. But despite the risks implicit in remaking famous movies, Coppola has made a fine update. The acting and directing is excellent, and the film has its own curious, dreamy atmosphere which is very powerful. Give it a go.
Please see next blog for more movies...
July 2017 book and film review
Welcome to this month's media review. I haven't read as much as usual this month, mainly because I have been preparing a "nonfiction novel" about the problems I currently face. I have written over 35,000 words, which represents my most intense output in any one month of my life. Shows you what doing a master's in creative writing can do for you...
BOOKS
THE BLACK SPIDER, by Jeremiah Gotthelf.
In mid 19th century Switzerland, a little village does its best to thrive despite the predations of a tyrannical overlord. And when he makes impossible demands of them, they seek the devil's help to fulfil them. Sure, they have to give the devil an unbaptised child in payment, but surely they can find a way to trick him out of what they promised him...
Of course the devil will not be thwarted, and when no unbaptised child is forthcoming, he unleashes a terrible punishment on the villagers; hence the title of this truly terrifying tale.
Written by parish priest, this is both a parable on resisting temptation and an allegory of the plague; whatever, it remains a minor classic of European literature. Highly recommended, though not for those of a nervous disposition...
DEMONS, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Being an everyday story of provincial life in mid 19th century Russia, its nobility, poor and wealthy, the middle classes and the peasants.
As Csar Alexander II attempted to drag Russia into the modern era by emancipating the serfs, socio-political thinkers divided themselves into two camps: the "Westernisers" who wanted to adopt the more liberal attitudes of Western Europe, and the "Slavophiles" who loved Mother Russia and wanted to maintain its traditional identity in the face of these hated "modernisers". Dostoyevsky uses his characters to debate these and other issues in the course of this demanding yet absorbing epic tale.
The strength of Dostoyevsky's writing lies not only in the intricate plotting, but in the totally believable dialogue he puts into his characters' mouths. In this way we can enter this world and become lost in the fields, farms and towns of a Russia at the dawn of a new era.
Give it a go, but only if you have plenty of time on your hands...
Please see next blog for movie reviews
BOOKS
THE BLACK SPIDER, by Jeremiah Gotthelf.
In mid 19th century Switzerland, a little village does its best to thrive despite the predations of a tyrannical overlord. And when he makes impossible demands of them, they seek the devil's help to fulfil them. Sure, they have to give the devil an unbaptised child in payment, but surely they can find a way to trick him out of what they promised him...
Of course the devil will not be thwarted, and when no unbaptised child is forthcoming, he unleashes a terrible punishment on the villagers; hence the title of this truly terrifying tale.
Written by parish priest, this is both a parable on resisting temptation and an allegory of the plague; whatever, it remains a minor classic of European literature. Highly recommended, though not for those of a nervous disposition...
DEMONS, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Being an everyday story of provincial life in mid 19th century Russia, its nobility, poor and wealthy, the middle classes and the peasants.
As Csar Alexander II attempted to drag Russia into the modern era by emancipating the serfs, socio-political thinkers divided themselves into two camps: the "Westernisers" who wanted to adopt the more liberal attitudes of Western Europe, and the "Slavophiles" who loved Mother Russia and wanted to maintain its traditional identity in the face of these hated "modernisers". Dostoyevsky uses his characters to debate these and other issues in the course of this demanding yet absorbing epic tale.
The strength of Dostoyevsky's writing lies not only in the intricate plotting, but in the totally believable dialogue he puts into his characters' mouths. In this way we can enter this world and become lost in the fields, farms and towns of a Russia at the dawn of a new era.
Give it a go, but only if you have plenty of time on your hands...
Please see next blog for movie reviews
Wednesday, 19 July 2017
Radiohead to Palestine: Fuck you
At a concert in Glasgow last week, Radiohead lead singer Thom York was seen to look in the direction of a few people waving Palestinian flags and give them the middle finger. That, it would appear, is what he thinks of the Palestinian people and the BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) movement which aspires to isolate Zionist Israel for its apartheid policy towards the Palestinian population.
Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Elton John, The Rolling Stones. The list of massive names who have taken the Israeli Shekel and played in Israel is long and despressing. But for Radiohead to add their names to "The List of Shame" is puzzling. Radiohead has long championed Human Rights causes, notably supporting Tibet in its struggle to liberate itself from Chinese hegemony. But Tibet's kinda trendy, huh Thom? Whereas who cares about Palestine? Palestine isn't cool, right Thom?
Tell you what, Thom York and anyone else who treads on the aspirations of a whole people to free themselves of the yolk imposed on them by Israel: fuck you. You're on the wrong side of history, and people won't forget.
Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Elton John, The Rolling Stones. The list of massive names who have taken the Israeli Shekel and played in Israel is long and despressing. But for Radiohead to add their names to "The List of Shame" is puzzling. Radiohead has long championed Human Rights causes, notably supporting Tibet in its struggle to liberate itself from Chinese hegemony. But Tibet's kinda trendy, huh Thom? Whereas who cares about Palestine? Palestine isn't cool, right Thom?
Tell you what, Thom York and anyone else who treads on the aspirations of a whole people to free themselves of the yolk imposed on them by Israel: fuck you. You're on the wrong side of history, and people won't forget.
Thursday, 6 July 2017
My ally right or wrong
"I'm with you, whatever."
The words of Tony Blair to his "boss", George W. Bush in 2002.
"You can't say that!" Said Sir Joh Chilcott today, speaking for the first time in a while about his report, which at the time, appeared to vindicate Blair. He didn't lie deliberately, was the conclusion at the time, and he re-iterated that today. But, Chilcott reminded us, Blair is above all an advocate, hardly surprising considering his background in the law, and his peruasive powers are, apparently, legendary. (Pity he couldn't have used it to greater effect in Palestine, instead of sitting on his arse in the American Colony hotel in Jerusalem and banking those fat cheques he got for his job as Middle East "Peace Envoy"). He talked the cabinet, the government and eventually the House into doing what he wanted- sorry- what his boss wanted. But he cannot be said to have taken the country with him. The guy on the Clapham omnibus remained skeptical- and he was right to be so.
Blair believed what he was doing was right, bought the fictitious tales that Saddam had WMDs- he didn't, and Hans Blix knew it, but his version was not what Blair and Bush wanted to hear.
Could it happen again today? Christ, I hope not, but do you know what? I think it could- watch out for Trump asking us to join him in a regime change operation in North Korea. We'd be insane to do that, but the US is our biggest ally, and there's that "special relationship", which to Blair meant being Bush's poodle, with him, "whatever"
Pelagius says: Never again! Never again should we follow the US down the road to war, however close our special relationship is. It doesn't mean we should go down the road of madness with a guy following his own twisted agenda. And if you don't think Trump has a twisted agenda, you haven't been paying attention.
The words of Tony Blair to his "boss", George W. Bush in 2002.
"You can't say that!" Said Sir Joh Chilcott today, speaking for the first time in a while about his report, which at the time, appeared to vindicate Blair. He didn't lie deliberately, was the conclusion at the time, and he re-iterated that today. But, Chilcott reminded us, Blair is above all an advocate, hardly surprising considering his background in the law, and his peruasive powers are, apparently, legendary. (Pity he couldn't have used it to greater effect in Palestine, instead of sitting on his arse in the American Colony hotel in Jerusalem and banking those fat cheques he got for his job as Middle East "Peace Envoy"). He talked the cabinet, the government and eventually the House into doing what he wanted- sorry- what his boss wanted. But he cannot be said to have taken the country with him. The guy on the Clapham omnibus remained skeptical- and he was right to be so.
Blair believed what he was doing was right, bought the fictitious tales that Saddam had WMDs- he didn't, and Hans Blix knew it, but his version was not what Blair and Bush wanted to hear.
Could it happen again today? Christ, I hope not, but do you know what? I think it could- watch out for Trump asking us to join him in a regime change operation in North Korea. We'd be insane to do that, but the US is our biggest ally, and there's that "special relationship", which to Blair meant being Bush's poodle, with him, "whatever"
Pelagius says: Never again! Never again should we follow the US down the road to war, however close our special relationship is. It doesn't mean we should go down the road of madness with a guy following his own twisted agenda. And if you don't think Trump has a twisted agenda, you haven't been paying attention.
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